Engadget
82
Microsoft Windows Phone 7.5
Engadget Review
Mango brings many desperately needed features to Windows Phone, elevating the platform to the modern era.
Read Full ReviewPros
- Seamless email and messaging
- Integration with Facebook and Twitter
- Much-needed Exchange support
Cons
- Needs more integration with third-party software
- Mobile hotspot for new devices only
- Multitasking needs a little work
Score Breakdown
With Windows Phone 7.5, Microsoft has taken a platform with promise and made it compelling enough for the masses. The OS was already more engaging in many ways than Android and iOS, but Mango matches Windows Phone's elegance with more power and versatility.
With Mango, WP7 has caught up with Android and iOS in nearly every way, and in some areas it's even surpassed the other two in functionality. Despite a grim first year, the bright future of Windows Phone is forcing Ballmer to wear shades.
The version 7.5 software update makes the OS a more powerful place to be, and enhances the many things there are to like about the platform--the bold, uncluttered visuals of the Metro UI, the dynamic live tiles ... the sensible camera app, and the accurate virtual keyboard.
The latest iteration of Windows Phone 7, "Mango" is a terrific OS for smartphone beginners. But a lack of 4G and other cutting-edge hardware support means it won't likely be a market leader.
With Mango, Microsoft has got the smartphone operating system right. It's fast, it's fun, it's easy to use, it does everything you need, and it looks great. It takes the things that made the original release unique and makes them better, and it addresses nearly every criticism made of that version.
Even though the company's WP7 faces a long road to more mainstream acceptance, we think that it's a solid operating system with a lot to like. The user interface is clean and easy to navigate. Contact integration is solid, and the Bing services are useful on a day-to-day basis.
If you don't want an iPhone, this is basically the only real option, unless you already know you want Android. ... It's not better than iOS, not yet. But it's the closest. And it's legitimately different and excellent.
Windows Phone 7.5 is supremely usable, surprisingly powerful and delivers the experience Microsoft has been promising, with only a few rough edges left.
Many of these new features are mainly bringing Windows Phone up to speed with the competition, yet there are a number that are quite innovative ... All the analysts are predicting Windows Phone’s imminent success for a reason, and this is probably just the beginning.
Second generation Windows Phone handsets are already on the way and they stand a good chance of stopping the market-share downward spiral. It will take years to catch up to Android and iOS, but Windows Phone 7.5 is a big step forward.
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